WA Non-Profits Score Solar Power Systems From Synergy

Synergy has announced its 2021 Community Solar Fund recipients. And the winners are…

• Constable Care Foundation – delivers life skills and values education in metropolitan, regional and remote early learning centres and primary schools. Headquartered in Maylands.
• Crossways Community Hub – a cafe, op-shop and low-cost food pantry in Kelmscott.
• Directions Disability Support Services  – a registered NDIS provider and has been actively supporting people living with disability and their families for more than 25 years. Located in Maddington.

Each group will receive a fully installed rooftop solar system. The size of the systems wasn’t mentioned, but Synergy says they will be tailored to each group’s energy needs.

As Synergy is owned by the Government of Western Australia, the State Government was understandably keen to get in on the warm and fuzzy action to score some brownie points.

“The McGowan Government is committed to supporting not-for-profits and helping them better manage their energy consumption so that they can redirect their savings into benefiting the wider community,” said WA Energy Minister Bill Johnston.

Synergy’s Community Solar Fund has been operating for four years and over that time has installed 16 solar power systems for WA non-profits.

Eligible organisations that apply receive a free energy audit and energy-saving recommendations – so it’s probably worth applying even just for that. Synergy then figures out the best sized system for finalists and its panel of judges decide on the winners. Organisations interested in applying for the 2022 round can register their interest here.

How Community Groups Can Go Solar

Solar power is a fantastic way for charities and community organisations to slash electricity costs and emissions. But it can be tough to raise the up-front funds needed to install panels; even with the generous national “solar rebate” (which is actually an up-front subsidy). When grants are available, there can be a lot of red tape – and competition.

A potential avenue to source the balance needed is Citizens Own Renewable Energy Network Australia (CORENA). It’s a not-for-profit group providing interest-free loans to community organisations to pay for solar power system installations and other energy efficiency measures. The loans are repaid out of savings on expenses and CORENA then uses that money again and again in subsequent projects – it’s a “revolving fund” that sources its funding from donations.

Some of these projects are for quite large systems. For example, back in May CORENA provided an interest-free loan of $92,000 for an 89kW solar installation at the City of Geelong Bowls Club that consisted of 189 solar panels. To that point – which was CORENA’s 41st project – the organisation had provided more than $808,615 in interest-free loans.

If a community group does have some funds put aside; going solar can be a much better investment than leaving that cash in the bank given miserable term deposit interest rates these days. A good quality solar power system can pay for itself in just a few years if a community group’s building sees significant use, and then it basically provides free electricity from that point.